English Reference

Word

honorable

Phoneticshon·or·able

US/ˈɑnɝəbəɫ/

UK/ˈɒnəɹəbəl/

UK spelling · Honourable

Definitions

01having integrity

B2

adj. honest and fair; having high moral standards that make people respect you.

adj. possessing or characterized by high moral standards and integrity. Often used to describe conduct that adheres to a strict ethical code.

“The judge was known for being an honorable man who always followed the law.”

“Choosing to admit his mistake was the only honorable course of action, even though it meant he would lose the contract.”

American English

Pitfall

He is an honourable man.

He is an honorable man.

In American English, the word is spelled 'honorable'. The spelling 'honourable' is used in British English.

Antonyms

dishonorablecorrupt

02worthy of respect

B2

adj. deserving respect or praise because of good qualities or achievements.

adj. worthy of being honored or respected; respectable in character or standing.

“Teaching is an honorable profession that helps the whole community.”

“After decades of service, he retired with an honorable record that served as an inspiration to the younger officers.”

American English

Synonyms

Antonyms

shamefuldisreputable

03formal title

C1 · Law

adj. a title used before the names of certain government officials, like judges or mayors.

adj. an honorific title used for high-ranking officials, including judges, members of Congress, and mayors. Usually capitalized when used as a title.

“The letter was addressed to the Honorable Sarah Jenkins.”

“The Honorable Justice Miller presided over the hearing, ensuring that all procedural requirements were strictly met.”

American English · Formal

Usage

In written addresses, it is typically abbreviated as 'Hon.' followed by the full name.

04a titled person

C2 · Politics

n. a person who has the official title of 'Honorable'.

n. a person, typically a politician or judge, who is entitled to the honorific 'Honorable'.

“Several honorables from the state senate attended the opening ceremony.”

“The gathering of honorables at the summit highlighted the diplomatic importance of the new trade agreement.”

American English · Formal

Synonyms

officialdignitary

Etymology

From Middle English honourable, from Old French honorable, honurable, from Latin honōrābilis, from honōrō (“I honour”); cognate with Italian onorabile, Spanish honorable. By surface analysis, honor + -able. In this sense, largely displaced Old English ārfæst.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

Idioms

honorable mention — An award or recognition given to a person or thing who does not achieve a higher standing but whose performance or entry was noteworthy.

Domain

Politics

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference